Disc recording reproducing apparatus having memory control which allows recording immediately upon loading of the disc

ABSTRACT

A recording and/or reproducing apparatus having a memory controller which controls a writ-in and read-out operation of data into the memory. When data are recorded on a disc-shaped recording medium by the recording and/or reproducing unit, the memory controller time-divisionally stores into a first storage area of a memory the data which will be recorded on the disc-shaped recording medium by the recording and/or reproducing unit while simultaneously time-divisionally storing into a second storage area of the memory management data for the disc-shaped recording medium which are read out by the recording and/or reproducing unit.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a recording and/or reproducingapparatus for a disc-shaped recording medium, and a memory controldevice for the recording and/or reproducing apparatus. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to a recording and/orreproducing apparatus using a memory for a disc-shaped recording medium,and a memory control device for the recording and/or reproducingapparatus.

2. Background of the Invention

A data rewritable magneto-optical disc on which an user can record musicdata or the like has been known, and also a recording and/or reproducingapparatus which is provided with a buffer memory to improve avibration-proof function has been realized as a recording and/orreproducing apparatus for such a magneto-optical disc.

In such a recording and/or reproducing apparatus for a magneto-opticaldisc, music data which are read out from the magneto-optical disc areintermittently written into a buffer memory at a high transfer rate in areproducing operation. On the other hand, the music data thus stored inthe buffer are continuously read out from the buffer memory at a lowtransfer rate and then subjected to a decoding processing as audioreproduction signals. At this time, some amount of data are accumulatedin the buffer memory at all times. Therefore, the audio data can becontinuously read out from the buffer memory even if a track jump occursdue to external vibration (disturbance) or the like and thus the dataread-out operation from the magneto-optical disc is temporarilyinterrupted. Consequently, reproduced sound which is output from therecording and/or reproducing can be prevented from being interrupted.

Furthermore, in a recording operation, input data are temporarily andcontinuously written into the buffer memory at a low transfer rate.Thereafter, the data thus stored are intermittently read out from thebuffer memory, and supplied to a magnetic head or an optical head toperform a recording operation on the magneto-optical disc.

In the recording and/or reproducing apparatus as described above,clusters CL (=36 sectors) each of which composed of a sub data area of 4sectors (1 sector=2352 bytes) and a main data area of 32 sectors arecontinuously formed on a recording track of the magneto-optical disc asshown in FIG. 1, and one cluster is used as the minimum unit forrecording. One cluster corresponds to a track length of two to threerounds. An address is recorded every sector.

The sub data area of 4 sectors is used as a subcode data or a linkingarea, and TOC (Table Of Contents) data, audio data, etc. are recorded onthe main data area of 32 sectors.

The sector is further divided into sound groups, and two sectors aredivided into 11 sound groups, and data are recorded in a sound group of424 bytes while divided into an L-channel and a R-channel. One soundgroup contains an audio data amount corresponding to a time of 11.6msec. An area of 212 bytes which corresponds to a data area of theL-channel or R-channel is called a "sound frame".

When a recording and/or reproducing operation is performed through abuffer memory on those data which are recorded according to the aboveformat on the magneto-optical disc, the data are stored into the buffermemory on a sector basis (every sector). That is, a sector address and abyte address (0 to 2351 byte) in a sector are composed of an accessaddress, and a write-in and read-out operation is performed on the basisof the access address.

In the recording and/or reproducing apparatus as described above, eachpart of a signal recording/reproducing system is operated while switchedbetween a reproduction mode and a recording mode. The signalrecording/reproducing system includes a head unit having a magnetic headand an optical head to perform a signal recording or reproducingoperation on the magneto-optical disc, and an EFM/CIRC encode/decodeunit for performing a decode operation such as EFM (Eight to FourteenModulation)/CIRC (Cross Interleaved Reed-Solomon Code), etc. on signalsread out by the head unit and performing an encode operation such asEFM/CIRC, etc. on signals supplied to the head unit for recording.Further, the signal recording/reproducing system includes the buffermemory as described above, a memory controller for controlling thebuffer memory, and an audio compression encode/decode unit which isdisposed between the buffer memory and the input/output terminals andperforms an encode and decode operation on audio compression processing.

When the recording and/or reproducing apparatus is kept in areproduction mode, the head unit reads out information from themagneto-optical disc through the optical head. The EFM/CIRCencode/decode unit functions as a decoder to decode the information readout from the magneto-optical disc, and supplies the decoded data to thebuffer memory. The memory controller writes into the buffer memory datasupplied from the EFM/CIRC encode/decode unit, and reads out data fromthe buffer memory and supplies the data to the audio compressionencode/decode unit. The audio compression encode/decode unit functionsas a decoder to decode data which have been recorded while compressed,and supplies the decoded data to an output terminal side.

On the other hand, when the recording and/or reproducing apparatus iskept in a recording mode, the audio compression encode/decode unitfunctions as an encoder to perform the audio compression encodeprocessing on input audio signals, and supplies the compressed data tothe buffer memory. The memory controller writes the data supplied fromthe audio compression encode/decode unit into the buffer memory, andreads out data from the buffer memory and supplies the data to theEFM/CIRC encode/decode unit. At this time, the EFM/CIRC encode/decodeunit functions as an encoder to perform the data encode processing onthe data read out from the buffer memory, and supplies the encoded datato the magnetic head of the head unit. The head unit records thesupplied data on the magneto-optical disc with a perpendicular magneticfield produced from the magnetic head and light beams radiated from theoptical head.

Each part of the recording and/or reproducing apparatus is operated ineach of the reproducing mode and the recording mode as described above,however, it has been impossible for this recording and/or reproducingapparatus to start its recording operation just after a disc is loadedinto the apparatus.

In order to perform the recording operation on the loadedmagneto-optical disc, TOC data must be first read out from the loadedmagneto-optical disc to identify a recordable area. The TOC data areread into the buffer memory to allow the system controller to refer tothe data. Therefore, just when the magneto-optical disc is loaded, therecording and/or reproducing apparatus must be first operated in thereproducing mode. That is, information which is first read out by theoptical head of the head unit is decoded in the EFM/CIRC encode/decodeunit, and supplied into the buffer memory.

The recording and/or reproducing apparatus cannot be switched to therecording mode unless the above operation is completed. After theapparatus is set to the recording mode, the input audio data can besubjected to the audio compression encode in the audio compressionencode/decode unit, and then written into the buffer memory. Therefore,the audio data which are input during the read-out operation of the TOCdata cannot be recorded, and thus this recording and/or reproducingapparatus as described above cannot satisfy an urgent recordingrequirement.

A non-operation period in which the head unit for performing theread-out operation at a high rate and the EFM/CIRC encode/decode unitare not operated exists during the process of supplying the data readout from the buffer memory into the audio compression encode/decode unitand outputting the data from the audio compression encode/decode unitunder the reproduction mode. It is timely possible to record renewed TOCdata during this period, for example. However, if the whole system is inthe reproduction mode, the head unit and the EFM/CIRC encode/decode unitcannot perform the recording operation, and thus it is impossible toperform the operation as described above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide arecording and/or reproducing apparatus for a disc-shaped recordingmedium, which resolves the above-mentioned problem.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a memorycontrol device for a recording and/or reproducing apparatus, which canresolve the above-mentioned problem.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided arecording and/or reproducing apparatus for a disc-shaped recordingmedium having management data recorded thereon to manage recorded data,which includes a recording and/or reproducing unit, a memory and amemory controller. The recording and/or reproducing unit records data onthe disc-shaped recording medium and/or reproduces recorded data fromthe disc-shaped recording medium. The memory temporarily stores thereindata which are reproduced by the recording and/or reproducing unit, andtemporarily stores therein data which are supplied to the recordingand/or reproducing unit and recorded on the disc-shaped recordingmedium. The memory includes a first storage area for storing data whichare produced from the disc-shaped recording medium by the recordingand/or reproducing unit, or data which are supplied to the recordingand/or reproducing unit and recorded on the disc-shaped recordingmedium, and a second storage area for storing the management data forthe disc-shaped recording medium which are read out by the recordingand/or reproducing unit. The memory controller controls a write-in andread-out operation of data into the memory. When data are recorded onthe disc-shaped recording medium by the recording and/or reproducingunit, the memory controller stores into the first storage area of thememory the data which will be recorded on the disc-shaped recordingmedium by the recording and/or reproducing unit while storing into thesecond storage area of the memory the management data for thedisc-shaped recording medium which are read out by the recording and/orreproducing unit.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda memory control device for a recording and/or reproducing apparatus,which includes first, second and third interface units, a selectionunit, an address data generating unit and a controller. The firstinterface unit receives and transmits control data. The second interfaceunit receives and transmits recording data and/or reproduction data, anda data input/output mode of the second interface unit is switched by thefirst interface unit. A data input/output mode of the third interfaceunit is switched by the first interface unit. The selection unitperforms a selective switching operation between the second and thirdinterface units as a data access (input/output) destination for thememory. The address data generating unit generates write-in address andread-out address data for the memory. The controller performs thefollowing control on the basis of the supplied control data. That is, onthe basis of the supplied control data, the first interface unit setsthe second and third interface units to the input mode, and incombination with the selection unit, it performs a selective switchingoperation between an operation of writing into the memory the data inputthrough the second interface unit on the basis of the address data fromthe address generating unit and an operation of writing into the memorythe data input through the third interface unit on the basis of theaddress data from the address data generating unit, whereby the datasupplied through the second interface unit and the data supplied throughthe third interface unit are written in the memory.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda memory control device for a recording and/or reproducing apparatus,which includes first, second and third interface units, a selection unitand an address data generating unit. The first interface unit receivesand transmits control data. The second interface unit receives andtransmits recording data and/or reproduction data, and a datainput/output mode of the second interface unit is switched by the firstinterface unit. At the data input mode time, the second interface unitis supplied with the reproduction data, and at the data output modetime, the second interface unit is supplied with the recording data. Adata input/output mode of the third interface unit is switched by thefirst interface unit. At the data input mode time, the third interfaceunit is supplied with the recording data, and at the data output modetime the third interface unit is supplied with the reproduction data.The selection unit performs a selective switching operation between thesecond and third interface units as a data access (input/output)destination for the memory so as to match the data input/output modewhich is set by the first interface unit. The address data generatingunit generates data write-in address data and data read-out address datafor the memory. When the second and third interface units are set to thedata input mode by the first interface unit, the data input through thesecond interface unit are written into the memory according to thewrite-in address data from the address generating unit by the selectionunit, and the data which are read out according to the read-out addressdata from the address data generating unit are supplied to the thirdinterface unit by the selection unit. On the other hand, when the secondand third interface units are set to the data output mode by the firstinterface unit, on the basis of the address data from the address datagenerating unit, the data from the second interface unit and the datafrom the third interface unit are selectively written into the memory.At this time, if the data write-in timing is coincident between thesecond and third interface units, the data from the second interfaceunit are written into the memory by the selection unit.

According to the present invention, when data are required to berecorded on the recording medium, the data to be recorded on therecording medium can be recorded while writing the management data fromthe loaded recording medium into the memory. Therefore, the head portionof the data to be recorded on the recording medium can be prevented frombeing unrecorded.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, the data input/outputmode of the memory can be individually set, so that data can be writteninto the memory whole storing other data into the memory.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a track format of a disc;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a recording and/or reproducingapparatus of an embodiment according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a memory controller in the embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an operation of the memory controller of theembodiment;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a P-TOC sector of the disc;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an U-TOC sector of the disc;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a management format of the U-TOC of thedisc;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a data sector of the disc;

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a storage area of a buffer memory in therecording and/or reproducing apparatus of the embodiment; and

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a storage area of a buffer memory in therecording and/or reproducing apparatus of the embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A recording and/or reproducing apparatus for a disc-shaped recordingmedium according to the present invention will be described hereunder indetail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the followingembodiments, the present invention is applied particularly to arecording and/or reproducing apparatus using a magneto-optical disc as arecording medium and a memory control device therefor.

The description of the preferred embodiments will be made in thefollowing order:

1. Construction of Recording and/or Reproducing Apparatus

2. P-TOC sector

3. U-TOC sector

4. Audio Data Sector

5. Storage Area of Buffer Memory

6. Construction of Memory Controller

7. Operation of Memory Controller

1. Construction of Recording and/or Reproducing Apparatus

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a main part of a recording and/orreproducing apparatus of an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 2, a magneto-optical disc 1, on which data based on audiosignals are recorded, is rotationally driven by a spindle motor 2. Anoptical head 3 irradiates a light beam onto the magneto-optical disc 1at recording/reproduction modes. At a recording time, the optical head 3outputs a light beam of high level power to heat the track of themagneto-optical disc 1 up to Curie temperature, and at a reproductionmode the optical head 3 outputs a light beam of a relatively low levelpower to detect data recorded on the magneto-optical disc on the basisof reflected light by using the magnetic Kerr effect.

The optical head 3 is equipped with a laser diode serving as a lightsource, an optical system having a polarization beam splitter, anobjective lens 3a, etc., and a photodetector for detecting the reflectedlight beam reflected from the magneto-optical disc 1. The objective lens3a is supported by an actuator 4 so as to be movable in a disc radialdirection (i.e., in a tracking direction) and in such a direction as toapproach to and be away from the disc (i.e., in a focusing direction).

A magnetic head 6a applies onto the magneto-optical disc 1 verticalmagnetic fields which are modulated in accordance with supplied data,and it is disposed so that the magneto-optical disc 1 is sandwichedbetween the magnetic head 6a and the optical head 3. The optical head 3and the magnetic head 6a are supported movably in the radial directionof the disc 1 by a feed mechanism 5.

In the reproducing operation, the output signal from the photodetectorof the optical head 3 is supplied to an RF amplifier 7. The RF amplifier7 performs calculation processing on the supplied signals to produce andextract an RF signal, a tracking error signal, a focus error signal,absolute position information (absolute position information which isrecorded as a pre-groove (wobbling groove) formed on the magneto-opticaldisc 1), address information, a focus monitor signal, etc. The RF signalthus produced by the RF amplifier 7 is supplied to an encoder/decoder 8.The tracking error signal and the focus error signal are supplied to aservo circuit 9, and the address information is supplied to an addressdecoder 10. The absolute position information and the focus monitorsignal are supplied to a system controller 11 which is composed of amicrocomputer, for example.

The servo circuit 9 produces various servo driving signals on the basisof the tracking error signal, the focus error signal, a track jumpcommand, a seek command, a rotational speed detection information of thespindle motor 2, etc. which are output from the system controller 11,and controls the actuator 4 and the feed mechanism 5 on the basis ofthese servo driving signals to perform focus control and trackingcontrol and also controls the spindle motor 2 to rotate at a constantangular velocity (CAV) or constant linear velocity (CLV).

The RF signal outputted from the RF amplifier 7 is subjected to decodeprocessing such as EFM demodulation, CIRC, etc. in the encoder/decoder8, and then temporarily written into the buffer memory 13 by the memorycontroller 12. The data read-out from the magneto-optical disc 1 by theoptical head 3 and the data transmission operation of reproduction datain a signal processing system extending from the optical head 3 to thebuffer memory 13 are intermittently carried out at 1.41 Mbit/sec.

The data which are written in the buffer memory 13 are read out at sucha timing that the transmission of the reproduction data is carried outat 0.3 Mbit/sec, and supplied to the encoder/decoder 14. The data whichare read out from the buffer memory 13 are subjected to reproductionsignal processing such as decode processing for the audio compressionprocessing, and converted to analog signals by a D/A converter 15. Theanalog signals are supplied from an analog output terminal 16A to aprescribed amplifying circuit, and output as reproduction signals, forexample, as analog signals of each of R- and L-channels. Furthermore,the data which are read out from the buffer memory 13 are supplied fromthe encoder/decoder 14 to the digital output terminal 16D, and output asdigital data. For example, the buffer memory is composed of a RAM.

Here, the data write/read operation in and from the buffer memory 13 iscarried out while a write-in pointer and a read-out pointer arecontrolled by the memory controller 12 to indicate an address. Thewrite-in pointer (write-in address) is incremented at a timing of 1.41Mbit/sec as described above, and the read-out pointer (read-out address)is incremented at a timing of 0.3 Mbit/sec. Some amount of data areallowed to be accumulated in the buffer memory 13 due to the differencebetween the write-in and read-out bit rates. The increment of thewrite-in pointer is stopped at the time when the buffer memory 13 isfully filled with data at a maximum, and the read-out operation of datafrom the magneto-optical disc 1 by the optical head 3 is also stopped.However, the increment of the read-out pointer is continued, so that theoutput signal at the output terminal 16A or 16D is not interrupted.

Thereafter, only the read-out operation of the data from the buffermemory 13 is continued, and if the data accumulation amount in thebuffer memory 13 falls below a predetermined value at a point in time,the data read-out operation of the optical head 3 and the increment ofthe write-in pointer are resumed and the data are accumulated in thebuffer memory 13 again.

The signals reproduced from the magneto-optical disc 1 are outputthrough the buffer memory 13 as described above. Therefore, even whenthe tracking is out of control due to external disturbance or the like,the output of the reproduced signals is not interrupted, and theoperation can be continued without adversely effecting the output of thereproduced signals by accessing a correct scanning position of theoptical head 3 to resume the read-out of the data before the buffermemory 13 becomes empty. That is, the vibration-proof function can beimproved.

In FIG. 2, the address information output from the address decoder 10and the subcode data supplied for the control operation are suppliedthrough the encoder/decoder 8 to the system controller 11, and used forvarious control operations.

Furthermore, a lock detection output signal of the PLL circuit forgenerating a bit clock for the recording/reproducing operation and amonitor signal representing a missing state of a frame synchronizingsignal of reproduced data are also supplied to the system controller 11.

The system controller 11 outputs a laser control signal S_(LP) forcontrolling the operation of the laser diode of the optical head 3 tocontrol the on/off operation of the output of the laser diode. In theon-control operation, the system controller 11 switches the output powerlevel of the light beam of the laser diode between the relatively lowlevel at the reproduction mode and the relatively high level at therecording mode.

When the recording operation is carried out on the magneto-optical disc1, an analog audio signal which is supplied as a recording signal to ananalog input terminal 17A is converted to a digital signal in an A/Dconverter 18, and then supplied to the encoder/decoder 14 to besubjected to the audio compression encode processing. Alternatively, adigital audio signal as a recording signal is supplied from a digitalinput terminal 17D to the encoder/decoder 14 to be subjected to theaudio compression encode processing.

The recording data which are compressed by the encoder/decoder 14 aretemporarily written into the buffer memory 13 by the memory controller12, read out therefrom at a predetermined timing and supplied to theencoder/decoder 8. In the encoder/decoder 8, the supplied data aresubjected to the encode processing such as the CIRC encode, the EFMmodulation, etc., and then supplied to a magnetic head driving circuit6.

The magnetic head driving circuit 6 supplies a magnetic head drivingsignal to the magnetic head 6a in accordance with the encoded recordingdata. That is, N- or S-pole vertical magnetic field is applied from themagnetic head 6a onto the magneto-optical disc 1 on the basis of therecording data. At this time, the system controller 11 outputs a controlsignal to the optical head 3 to output a light beam of recording level(high level).

A reference numeral 19 denotes an operation input unit provided with aplurality of keys which can be manipulated or operated by a user, and areference numeral 20 denotes a display unit composed of a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD) element. The operation input unit 19 has a recording key,a reproduction key, a stop key, an AMS (Auto Music Scan) key, a searchkey, etc. which can be manipulated by the user.

When the recording/reproducing operation is carried out on themagneto-optical disc 1, it is necessary to read out the managementinformation recorded on the disc 1, that is, P-TOC (pre-recorded TOC)data and U-TOC (user TOC) data. The system controller 11 identifies theaddress of an area to be recorded on the disc 1 and the address of anarea to be reproduced in accordance with these management information.The management information is held or stored in the buffer memory 13.Therefore, the buffer memory 13 is divided into a storage area fortemporarily storing the recording data/reproducing data as describedabove and an area for storing the management information.

When the disc 1 is loaded in the apparatus, the system controller 11starts the reproducing operation of the innermost peripheral side of thedisc 1 on which the management information is recorded, thereby readingout the P-TOC data and the U-TOC data as described above, and thenstores these read-out P-TOC data and the U-TOC data into the buffermemory 13, whereby the system controller 11 is allowed to refer to thesemanagement information when the recording/reproducing operation isafterwards carried out on the disc 1.

The U-TOC data are rewritten in accordance with data recording ordeletion. The system controller 11 edits the U-TOC data stored in thebuffer memory 13 every time the recording/deleting operation is carriedout, and also it performs a rewriting operation on an U-TOC area on thedisc 1 at a prescribed timing in accordance with the rewritingoperation.

Next, an audio data sector, and P-TOC sector and U-TOC sector formanaging the recording/reproducing operation of audio data, which arerecorded in a sector data format on the disc 1, will be described.

2. P-TOC Sector

Using the P-TOC data, an area indication is determined for a recordablearea on the disc (recordable user area), management of an U-TOC area,etc. When the disc 1 is a pre-recorded optical disc which is exclusivelyused for reproduction, music data which are recorded in a physicallyuneven form, that is, in the form of pits can be managed by the P-TOCdata.

FIG. 5 shows a sector (sector 0) for P-TOC data which are repetitivelyrecorded in an area for P-TOC data, for example, in a read-only area (anarea used exclusively for reproduction) at the innermost peripheral sideof the disc. Four sectors 0 to 4 are provided for the P-TOC sectors,however, the sector 1 and subsequent sectors are optionally provided.

The data area of a sector of the P-TOC (4 bytes×588=2352 bytes) isprovided at the head position thereof with four bytes of a synchronizingpattern composed of one-byte data which are all "0" or "1", addressesrepresenting a cluster address, a sector address, etc., and theseconstitute a header as shown in FIG. 5.

Next to the header, an identifier ID which is represented by ASCII codescorresponding to letters "MINI" is provided at a prescribed addressposition to indicate that this area is an area on which the P-TOC dataare recorded.

Next to the identifier ID are further recorded information on a disctype, a recording level, the music number of a first recorded piece ofmusic (First TNO), the music number of a last recorded piece of music(Last TNO), a read-out start address LO_(A), a sector use status (Usedsectors), a power calibration area start address PC_(A), a start addressUST_(A) of the U-TOC sector, a start address RST_(A) of a recordablearea, etc.

Subsequently, there is provided a corresponding table indication datahaving table pointers (P-TNO1 to P-TNO255) with which the respectiverecorded pieces of music are allowed to correspond to part tables in amanagement table portion as described later.

In an area next to the corresponding table indication data portion isprovided a management table portion having 255 part tables of (01h) to(FFh) in correspondence to the table pointers (P-TNO1 to P-TNO255). Inthis specification, a numerical value affixed with "h" is represented byhexadecimal notation.

Each of the part tables contains a start address serving as a startpoint for a part, an end address serving as an end point for the part,and mode information for the part (track mode).

The part is defined as a track portion on which data which arecontinuous on a time axis are recorded at a physically continuousposition.

The mode information of the track in each part table containsinformation as to whether the part is set to a rewrite prohibition modeor a data copy prohibition mode, information as to whether theinformation is audio information, information on a type ofmonaural/stereo, etc.

Each of the part tables (01h) to (FFh) represents the content of thepart with the table pointers (P=TNO1 to P-TNO255). That is, a part table(for example, (01h)) is recorded as a table pointer P-TNO1 for a firstpiece of music. In this case, the start address of the part table (01h)is a start address for a recording position of the first piece of music.Likewise, the end address thereof is an end address of the recordingposition of the first piece of music. Furthermore, the track modeinformation is information for the first piece of music. As the tablepointer is actually provided a numerical value which can represent apart table with a byte position in the P-TOC sector 0.

Likewise, with respect to a second piece of music, the start and endaddresses of the recording position of the second piece of music and thetrack mode information therefor are recorded in a part table, forexample, (02h) which is represented by a table pointer P-TNO2.

Likewise, 255 pieces of music can be managed on the P-TOC because thetables pointers are provided from P-TNO1 to P-TNO255. By forming theP-TOC sector 0 as described above, the music data of a desired piece ofmusic can be accessed and reproduced at the reproduction time, forexample.

When the magneto-optical disc is a recordable/reproduciblemagneto-optical disc, no pre-recorded music data area exists. Therefore,the corresponding table indication table data portion and the managementtable portion as described above are not used, and thus all the bytesare wholly set to "00h".

However, with respect to a hybrid type disc having a read-only area(which is exclusively used for reproduction) as an area on which musicdata or the like are beforehand recorded, and a magneto-optical area onwhich data are recordable, the corresponding table indication dataportion and the management table portion as described above are used tomanage the music data in the read-only area.

3. U-TOC Sector

Next, the U-TOC sector will be described.

FIG. 6 shows the format of a sector of the U-TOC, and it is used as adata area in which management information are recorded. The managementinformation is used to manage music data which are recorded by an userand unrecorded areas (free areas) on which music data are newlyrecordable. Sectors 0 to 7 may be provided as an U-TOC sector, however,the sector 1 and subsequent sectors are optionally provided.

For example, when a piece of music is required to be recorded on thedisc 1, the system controller 11 searches a free area on the disc on thebasis of the data of the U-TOC and records data based on audio data inthe free area. At the reproduction time, on the basis of the data of theU-TOC the system controller 11 identifies an area on which music data tobe reproduced are recorded, and controls the optical head 3 to accessthe area, thereby performing the reproducing operation.

The U-TOC sector 0 shown in FIG. 6 is first provided with a header likethe P-TOC, and next provided with data on a maker code, a model code,the music number of the first piece of music (First TNO), the musicnumber of the last piece of music (Last TNO), a sector use status, adisc serial number, a disc ID, etc.

In order to identify an area of music data which are recorded by user'srecording audio signals, a free area, etc. on the basis of the matchingwith the management table portion as described later, areas on whichvarious table pointers (P-DFA, P-EMPTY, P-FRA, P-NO1 to P-TNO255) arerecorded are prepared as the corresponding table indication dataportion.

Part tables of 255 are provided as management table portions (01h) to(FFh) which correspond to the table pointers (P-DFA to P-TNO255). Likethe P-TOC sector 0 shown in FIG. 5, a start address serving as a startpoint for a part, an end address serving as an end point for the part,and mode information (track mode) for the part are recorded in eachpart. With respect to the U-TOC sector 0, in some cases a partrepresented by each part table may be subsequently linked to anotherpart. Accordingly, in the U-TOC sector 0 can be recorded linkinformation representing a part table in which the start address and theend address of a part to be linked are recorded.

In this type recording and/or reproducing apparatus, even when data of apiece of music are recorded physically discontinuously, that is, overplural parts, no trouble occurs in the reproducing operation because thereproduction is continued while accessing the data over parts.Therefore, there is a case where in order to use a recordable area withhigh efficiency, music data are recorded while divided into pluralparts.

Accordingly, link information is provided to indicate another part tableto be linked on the basis of a number (01h)-(FFh) (actually representedwith a numeral value which is a byte position in the U-TOC sector 0through a prescribed calculation processing) supplied to each parttable, thereby linking the part tables.

With respect to music data which are beforehand recorded on the disc,the music data are generally recorded while not divided into pluralparts. Therefore, all the link information in the P-TOC sector is set to"(00h)" as shown in FIG. 5.

That is, in the management table portion in the U-TOC sector 0, one parttable represents one part. For example, with respect to music data whichis constructed by linking three parts, the positions of the respectiveparts are managed by three part tables which are linked to one anotherwith the link information.

The content of each of the part tables (01h) to (FFh) in the managementtable portion of the U-TOC sector 0 is represented with the tablepointers (P-DFA, P-EMPTY, P-FRA, P-TNO1 to P-TNO255) in thecorresponding table indication data portion as follows.

The table pointer P-DFA represents a defective area on themagneto-optical disc 1, and it specifies a part table or the head parttable of plural part tables, each of which corresponds to a trackportion (=part) having a defective area due to scratches. That is, whena part containing a defective area exists, any one of (01h) to (FFh) isrecorded in the table pointer P-DFA. In a part table indicated by thetable pointer P-DFA, a part having a defective area is indicated withthe start and end addresses thereof. When another defective part exists,another part table is indicated as link information to the former parttable, and a part having a defective area is also indicated in thelatter part table. If no other subsequent part having a defective areaexists, the link information is set to "(00h)" to indicate no subsequentdefective part.

The table pointer P-EMPTY represents an unused part table or the headpart table of plural unused part tables in the management table portion.When an unused part table exists, any one of (01h) to (FFh) is recordedas the table pointer P-EMPTY. When plural unused part tables exist,these part tables are successively specified with link information fromthe part table which is indicated by the table pointer P-EMPTY, wherebyall the unused part tables are linked to one another on the managementtable portion.

The table pointer P-FRA represents a data writable free area (containinga deletion area) on the magneto-optical disc 1, and it specifies a parttable or the head part table of plural part tables, each of whichcorresponds to a track portion (=part) serving as a free area. That is,when a free area exists, any one of (01h) to (FFh) is recorded in thetable pointer P-FRA, and a part serving as a free area is indicated withthe start and end addresses thereof in a corresponding part table. Whenplural parts serving as free areas exist, that is, when plural parttables corresponding to free areas exists, these part tables aresuccessively indicated with link information until a part table whoselink information is set to "(00h)".

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a management state of partsserving as free areas. In FIG. 7, parts of (03h), (18h), (1Fh), (2Bh)and (E3h) are free areas, and subsequently to the corresponding tableindication data P-FRA, the link state of these parts of (03h), (18h),(1Fh), (2Bh) and (E3h) is managed with link information. The defectiveareas and the unused part tables as described above are managed in thesame management mode as described above.

If the magneto-optical disc has not been recorded with audio data ofpieces of music and has no defect, the part table (01h) is indicated bythe table pointer P-FRA, whereby the whole recordable user area on thedisc is indicated as a free area. In this case, the remaining parttables (02h) to (FFh) are unused. Therefore, the part table (02h) isindicated by the table pointer P-EMPTY, and the part table (03h) isindicated with link information of the part table (02h). The subsequentpart tables are successively linked until the part table (FFh) in thesame manner as described above. In this case, the link information ofthe part table (FFh) is set to "(00h)" to indicate no subsequentlinkage.

For the part table (01h), the start address of the recordable user areais recorded as the start address of the part table (01h), and an addressjust before a read-out start address is recorded as the end address ofthe part table (01h).

The table pointers P-TNO1 to P-TNO255 represent the music data of piecesof music which are recorded on the magneto-optical disc 1 by the user.For example, the table pointer P-TNO1 indicates a part table forspecifying a part or the head part of plural parts on time axis, onwhich the music data of the first piece of music are recorded.

For example, when the first piece of music is recorded as a single parton the disc without being divided into plural parts, a storage area forthe first piece of music is recorded as the start and end addresses of apart table which is indicated by the table pointer P-TNO1.

Furthermore, when the music data of the second piece of music arediscretely recorded on the disc while divided into plural parts, therespective parts are indicated in a time order to indicate the recordingposition of the second piece of music. That is, the other part tablesare successively indicated in time order with the link information fromthe part table indicated by the table pointer P-TNO2, and this linkageis continued until a part table whose link information is set to"(00h)".

As described above, all the parts on which the music data of the secondpiece of music are recorded are successively indicated, and thus usingthe data of the U-TOC sector 0, the optical head 3 and the magnetic head6a are controlled to access these parts when the second piece of musicis reproduced or data are overwritten into the area for the second pieceof music, whereby the music data of the second piece can be continuouslyoutput from the discretely-disposed parts and the recording operationcan be performed while effectively using the recording area.

As described above, the area management on the disc is performed by theP-TOC data as described above, and the music data recorded in therecordable user area, the free areas, etc. are managed by the U-TOCdata.

4. Audio Data Sector

The format of a sector in which audio data are recorded is set as shownin FIG. 8.

In the sector (2352 bytes), 12 bytes at the head thereof are used assynchronizing data, next 3 bytes are set for a cluster address and asector address, and next 1 byte is used for a mode. These 16 bytes areset as a header.

Furthermore, 4 bytes subsequently to the header is set as a sub header,and bytes subsequent to the sub header, that is, 2332 bytes from 21stbyte to 2352nd byte of the sector are used as a data area (Data-0 todata2331). Eleven units of sound frames of 212 bytes as shown in FIG. 1are recorded in the data area of 2332 bytes.

5. Storage Area of Buffer Memory

In this embodiment, the buffer memory 13 is used as shown in FIG. 9 tostore these sectors (TOC sector and data sector). The storage capacityof the buffer memory 13 is set to 4 Mbits, and TOC data of 8 sectors canbe stored. 12 bytes (addresses 0000h to 000Ch) at the head position areset as an empty area, and subsequent 18944 bytes from addresses 000Ch to4A0Bh are used to store TOC data. That is, eight areas from an area 00to an area 07 serve to hold the TOC data. As shown in FIG. 5 or FIG. 6,each area composes of 2368 bytes, and thus additive data of 16 bytes canbe stored in addition to data of one sector of 2352 bytes.

Furthermore, addresses from 4A0Ch to 07FC4Bh are used to store databased on audio signals, that is, areas 08 to DC each composing of 2368bytes are used for storage and read-out of audio data sectors. In thiscase, each area composes of 2368 bytes, and thus additive data of 16bytes can be stored in addition to data of one sector composing of 2352bytes as shown in FIG. 8. Addresses from 07FC4Ch to 07FFFFh are set asan empty area.

Here, 000Ch to 07F30Ch which are represented as the head addresses ofthe respective areas from the area 00 to the area DC are calculated onthe basis of the count value of the sector which is a write-in/read-outtarget. That is, representing the sector count value by Ns, the sectoraddress is set to (940h ×Ns+0Ch). a value of "+0Ch" is an offsetcorresponding to the empty area at the head. Accordingly, for example,the head address of the area 08 is calculated as (940h×08h+0Ch=4A0Ch).

The internal construction of each area of 2368 bytes (for example, area09) is shown in FIG. 10.

The area 09 is stored with audio data, that is, such a sector as shownin FIG. 8. The head address of this area 09 is 534Ch, and 2368 bytes(000h to 93Fh) from the head address until an address 5C8Bh are used asshown in FIG. 10.

That is, since the write-in operation of the sector is carried out inaccordance with synch detection, a cluster address, a sector address anda mode are first stored, then a sub header of 4 bytes is stored, andthen data Data0 to Data2331 are successively stored. Thereafter, thesync is written in, and one sector (2352 bytes) are stored.

Here, 16 bytes remain in the area after the sector is stored, and these16 bytes (930h to 93Fh) are used as a storage area (additive area 09add) for a sector parameter so that additive data can be also storedtherein.

The address of each byte is obtained by adding the head address (sectoraddress) of the area with a byte address. For example, the address ofData0 in the area 09 is set to (940h×09h+0Ch)+008h=534Ch+008h=5354h.

As described above, additive areas (00 add to DC add) in which additivedata can be stored in correspondence to the sector data are provided tothe respective areas (area 00 to area DC) in the buffer memory 13.Accordingly, the track number, an advance time, a track mode, linkinformations, error informations, etc. which are incident to the sectorcan be held in correspondence to the sector with these additive areas.In this case, when sector data are read out, additive data which areincident to the sector data are also read out and used to manage variousoperations.

6. Construction of Memory Controller

Next, the construction of the memory controller 12 to use the buffermemory 13 in the mode as described will be described.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal construction of thememory controller 12.

A disc drive interface unit 30 holds and receives and transmitsrecording/reproduction data Dt and TOC data TDt from and to the discdrive side, that is, the encoder/decoder 8.

A memory data interface unit 31 performs data write-in/read-out to thebuffer memory 13 and holds these data. The data to be written in/readout are the recording/reproducing data Dt and the TOC data TDt.

An audio compression interface unit 32 serves to hold and receive andtransmit the recording/reproducing data Dt from and to the audiocompression unit, that is, the encoder/decoder 14.

A controller interface unit 33 serves as an interface to the systemcontroller 11. The controller interface unit 33 receives and transmitsthe TOC data TDt from and to the system controller 11, receives thecontrol signal from the system controller 11 and holds these data.

An address counter 34 generates a write-in address/read-out address(M_(Ad)) on the basis of address indication data which are suppliedthrough the controller interface unit 33, mode information, sync data ofa sector which is detected by the disc drive interface unit 30 or theaudio compression interface unit 32, a byte count signal supplied fromthe memory data interface unit 31, etc., and supplies the write-inaddress/read-out address to the buffer memory 13. The drive interfaceunit 30, the memory interface unit 31, the audio compression interfaceunit 32, the controller interface unit 33 and the address counter 34 areconnected to one another through a control bus B.

The memory data interface unit 31 is provided with a selector 31a. Thedata transmission between the memory data interface unit 31 and the discdrive interface unit 30 and the data transmission between the memorydata interface unit 31 and the audio compression interface unit 32 arecarried out through the selector 31a. That is, a data input/outputdestination for the buffer memory is the selector 31a, and the discdrive interface unit 30 or the audio compression interface unit 32 isselected.

The controller interface unit 33 is provided with a mode signalgenerator 33a. The reproduction mode/recording mode is set on the basisof a signal from the mode signal generator 33a.

The mode signal is output to two paths. The mode signal on one path is adisc-side mode signal D_(MOD) for the disc drive interface unit 30 andthe encoder/decoder 8, and the mode signal on the other path is aninput/output side mode signal A_(MOD) for the audio compressioninterface unit 32 and the encoder/decoder 14. The disc-side mode signalD_(MOD) and the input/output side mode signal A_(MOD) are also suppliedto the memory data interface unit 31, and these signals are used toperform a switching operation of the selector 31a in the memory datainterface unit 31.

With the mode signals D_(MOD) and A_(MOD) on the two paths, both thedisc drive interface unit 30 and the encoder/decoder 8 and both theaudio compression interface unit 32 and the encoder/decoder unit 14 canbe individually operated in different modes.

When both the disc drive interface unit 30 and the encoder/decoder 8 areset to the reproduction mode with the disc-side mode signal D_(MOD), thedata read out from the disc 1 is subjected to the EFM/CIRC decodingprocessing, and then written into the buffer memory 13 through thememory data interface unit 31.

On the other hand, when these are set to the recording mode with thedisc-side mode D_(MOD), the disc drive interface unit 30 receives thedata read out from the buffer memory 13 through the memory datainterface unit 31, and the data output from the disc drive interfaceunit 30 is subjected to the EFM/CIRC encode processing and then suppliedto the magnetic head driving circuit 6.

When both the audio compression interface unit 32 and theencoder/decoder 14 are set to the recording mode with the input/outputside mode signal A_(MOD), the data based on signals input from the inputterminal 17A or 17D are subjected to the audio compression encode, andthen written into the buffer memory 13 through the audio compressioninterface unit 32 and the memory data interface unit 31.

On the other hand, when these are set to the reproduction mode with theinput/output side mode signal A_(MOD), the audio compression interfaceunit 32 receives the data read out from the buffer memory 13 through thememory data interface unit 31, and the data output from the audiocompression interface unit 32 are subjected to the audio compressiondecode processing by the encoder/decoder 14, and then output from theoutput terminal 16A or 16D.

7. Operation of Memory Controller

As described above, both the disc drive interface unit 30 and theencoder/decoder unit 8 as a pair and both the audio compressioninterface unit 32 and the encoder/decoder unit 14 as a pair are operatedin different modes with the two-path mode signals D_(MOD) and A_(MOD).In addition, the TOC data storage area and the audio data storage areaare separately set in the buffer memory 13 as shown in FIG. 9.Therefore, in the recording and/or reproducing apparatus of thisembodiment, the data based on signals input from the input terminal 17Dor 17A can be stored into the buffer memory 13 while the TOC data areread out from the disc 1 and written into the buffer memory 13.

The operation of the memory controller 13 to perform the above operationwill be described with reference to FIG. 4.

In FIG. 4, DI represents the disc drive interface unit 30, and AIrepresents the audio compression interface unit 32. In order to writethe TOC data read out from the disc 1 into the buffer memory 13, thedisc drive interface unit 30 and the encoder/decoder 8 are set to thereproduction mode by the disc side mode signal D_(MOD). Accordingly, theencoder/decoder 8 functions as an EFM/CIRC decoder, and the disc driveinterface unit 30 serves to transmit the decoded data into the memorydata interface unit 31 and stores them into the buffer memory 13.

Since the data based on the input audio signals are written into thebuffer memory 13, the audio compression interface unit 32 and theencoder/decoder 14 are set to the recording mode by the input/outputside mode signal A_(MOD). Accordingly, the encoder/decoder 14 functionsas an audio compression encoder, and the audio compression interfaceunit 32 transmits the encoded data to the memory data interface unit 31and stores them into the buffer memory 13.

In this case, the memory data interface unit 31 waits for adata-reception request from the disc drive interface unit 30 and theaudio compression interface unit 32, and it is operated in accordancewith the request.

FIG. 4 shows a case where the disc drive interface unit 30 first outputsa request R₁ to the memory data interface unit 31. The memory datainterface unit 31 makes a request reception of the request R₁ from thedisc drive interface unit 30 to enter a write-in operation of writingthe data from the disc drive interface unit 30 into the buffer memory13. At this time, even when a request R₂ is output from the audiocompression interface unit 32, the request R₂ is not received, and thusit is invalidated.

The memory data interface unit 31 transmits to the disc drive interfaceunit 30 a timing instruction T₁ for instructing a data transmissiontiming to the disc drive interface unit 30. The selector 31a is set tothe disc drive interface unit 30 side.

When receiving the timing instruction T₁, the disc drive interface unit30 starts data output DO₁ at the indicated timing. The memory datainterface unit 31 receives the data output DO₁ through the selector 31,and supplies and writes the received data into the buffer memory 13. Atthis time, the write-in address is set and output by the address counter34, and an address representing a storage area for TOC data is outputbecause the data supplied from the disc drive interface unit 30 are TOCdata.

After the data write-in operation from the memory data interface unit 31into the buffer memory 13 is completed, the memory data interface unit31 is set to a request receivable state. It is assumed that a request R₃is output from the audio compression interface unit 32 in the abovestate. The memory data interface unit 31 makes a request reception ofthe request R₃ from the audio compression interface unit 32 to enter thedata write-in operation from the audio compression interface unit 32into the buffer memory 13. At this time, even when a request R₄ isoutput from the disc drive interface unit 30, the request R₄ is notreceived, and it is invalidated.

The memory data interface unit 31 transmits to the audio compressioninterface unit 32 a timing instruction T₂ for instructing a datatransmission timing. The selector 31a is set to the audio compressioninterface unit 32 side. When receiving the timing instruction T₂, theaudio compression interface unit 32 starts a data output DO₂ at theindicated timing.

The memory data interface unit 31 receives the data output DO₂ throughthe selector 31a, and supplies and writes the received data into thebuffer memory 13. At this time, the write-in address is set and outputby the address counter 34, however, the address for an audio datastorage area is output because the data at this time are audio datawhich have been subjected to the audio compression processing by theencoder/decoder 14. The memory data interface unit 31 is set to arequest receivable state after the data write-in operation from thememory data interface unit 31 into the buffer memory 13 is completed.

If requests R₅ and R₆ from the disc drive interface unit 30 and theaudio compression interface unit 32 are simultaneously input to thememory data interface unit 31, the memory data interface unit 31preferentially receives the request R₅ from the disc drive interfaceunit 30 and thus invalidates the request R₆ from the audio compressioninterface unit 32. This is because the read-out of the TOC data requiredfor the recording operation is superior.

Subsequently, the memory data interface unit 31 is successivelycontacted with each of the disc drive interface unit 30 and the audiocompression interface unit 32 in accordance with the request in the samemanner as described above to continue the data write-in operation intothe buffer memory 13.

The memory controller 12 carries out the data write-in operation intothe buffer memory 13 as described above, whereby the data based on theinput audio signals can be accumulated into the buffer memory 13 whilereading out the TOC data when the disc is loaded. That is, this meansthat the data based on the audio signals can be input and recordedimmediately after the disc is loaded into the apparatus.

That is, when data are recorded on the magneto-optical disc, the TOCdata must be first read out. In a conventional apparatus, it isimpossible to read input audio data into the buffer memory 13 during aperiod (for example, 2 to 3 seconds) for which the read-out operation ofthe TOC data is performed because the audio compression interface unit32 is also set to the reproduction mode, so that the data recordingcannot be performed for the period.

However, according to this embodiment, when the recording startoperation is carried out just after the disc is loaded into theapparatus, the disc drive interface unit 30 is set to the reproductionmode to read out the TOC data. At the same time, the audio compressioninterface unit 32 is set to the recording mode to perform accumulationof data based on audio signals. Accordingly, the audio data which areinput during a period for which the TOC data are read out from themagneto-optical disc are also held as valid data in the buffer memory13, and then the disc drive interface unit 30 is set to the recordingmode to record the accumulated audio data onto the disc 1 after the TOCdata read-out operation is completed. As a result, the audio data can berecorded on the magneto-optical disc without being interrupted at thehead portion thereof to meet an emergent recording operation just afterthe disc is loaded into the apparatus.

In this embodiment, the disc drive interface unit 30 side may beoperated in the recording mode while the audio compression interfaceunit 32 side is operated in the reproduction mode. That is, while thedata read out from the disc 1 are sufficiently accumulated in the buffermemory 13 and these data are output to the audio compression interfaceunit 32 side, the disc drive interface unit 30 side can be operated inthe recording mode to write, for example, U-TOC data on the disc 1during a period for which the data read-out operation from the disc 1 isnot carried out.

With this operation, the U-TOC data can be renewed at all times on thedisc 1 even in the midst of editing or the like, and thus it can beavoided that U-TOC data which have been recorded/edited in the buffermemory 13 are deleted due to sudden break-down of a power source, andthus the recording/editing operation comes to nothing.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, andvarious modifications containing alteration of an actual operatingprocedure may be made without departing from the subject matter of thepresent invention. In the above embodiment, the magneto-optical disc isused as a recording medium, however, any disc-shaped recording mediumother than the magneto-optical disc may be used insofar as it is awritable disc-shaped recording medium.

What is claimed is:
 1. A recording and/or reproducing apparatus for adisc-shaped recording medium on which management data to manage recordeddata are recorded, said apparatus comprising:recording and/orreproducing means for recording data on the disc-shaped recording mediumand/or reproducing recorded data from the disc-shaped recording medium;storing means for temporarily storing data reproduced by said recordingand/or reproducing means and temporarily storing data which are suppliedto said recording an/or reproducing means to be recorded on thedisc-shaped recording medium, said storing means including a firststoring area for storing the data reproduced from the disc-shapedrecording medium by said recording and/or reproducing means, or storingthe data which are supplied to said recording and/or reproducing meansto be recorded on the disc-shaped recording medium, and a second storingarea for storing management data which are read out from the disc-shapedrecording medium by said recording and/or reproducing means; and storagecontrol means for controlling writing and reading operations of datainto and from said storing means, wherein when data are recorded on thedisc-shaped recording medium by said recording and/or reproducing means,said storage control means time-divisionally stores into said firststoring area of said storing means the data to be recorded on thedisc-shaped recording medium while simultaneously time-divisionallystoring into said second storing area of said storing means themanagement data which are read out from the disc-shaped recording mediumby said recording and/or reproducing means.
 2. A recording and/orreproducing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said storage controlmeans performs the data write-in operation into said second storing areaof said storing means more preferentially than the data write-inoperation into said first storing area of said storing means.
 3. Arecording and/or reproducing apparatus for a disc-shaped recordingmedium on which management data to manage recorded data are recorded,said apparatus comprising:recording and/or reproducing means forrecording data on the disc-shaped recording medium and/or reproducingrecorded data from the disc-shaped recording medium; storing means fortemporarily storing data reproduced by said recording and/or reproducingmeans and temporarily storing data which are supplied to said recordingan/or reproducing means to be recorded on the disc-shaped recordingmedium, said storing means including a first storing area for storingthe data reproduced from the disc-shaped recording medium by saidrecording and/or reproducing means, or storing the data which aresupplied to said recording and/or reproducing means to be recorded onthe disc-shaped recording medium, and a second storing area for storingmanagement data which are read out from the disc-shaped recording mediumby said recording and/or reproducing means; storage control means forcontrolling and reading operations of data into and from said storingmeans, wherein when data are recorded on the disc-shaped recordingmedium by said recording and/or reproducing means, said storage controlmeans stores into said first storing area of said storing means the datato be recorded on the disc-shaped recording medium while storing intosaid second storing area of said storing means the management data whichare read out from the disc-shaped recording medium by said recordingand/or reproducing means; control means for controlling the recordingand reproducing operations of said recording and/or reproducing meansand controlling the operation of said storage control means; whereinsaid storage control means comprises first interface means for receivingand transmitting control data from and to said control means, secondinterface means which receives and transmits data from and to saidrecording and/or reproducing means and whose data input/output mode isswitched by said first interface means, third interface means whose datainput/output mode is switched by said first interface means, selectionmeans for selecting one of said second interface means and said thirdinterface means as a data input/output destination to said storingmeans, and address data generating means for generating write-in addressdata and data read-out address data for said storing means; and whereinat the data recording time onto the recording medium, said firstinterface means sets said second and third interface means to an inputmode on the basis of the control data from said control means, andwherein in the data recording operation onto the recording medium, thefirst interface means sets the second and third interface means to theinput mode on the basis of the control data from said control means, andin combination with said selection means, said first interface meansperforms a selective switching operation between an operation of writinginto said storing means the data input through said second interfacemeans on the basis of the address data from said address data generatingmeans and an operation of writing into said storing means the data whichare input through said third interface means to be recorded on therecording medium, on the basis of the address data from said addressdata generating means, whereby the data supplied through said recordingand/or reproducing means and the data to be recorded on the recordingmedium are stored in said storing means.
 4. A recording and/orreproducing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said selection meanswrites the data from said second interface means into said storing meanswhen data write-in timings of the data from said second and thirdinterface means into said storing means are coincident with each other.